Consumer drones run on electricity, unlike their bigbrothers in the military that use some form of a
combustion engine (or solar). Your drone must have a
reliable power source, and that means batteries. The
problem with batteries is that they are heavy, must be
charged, and they are typically expensive. And
remember, batteries on motorized vehicles typically
don’t last long. When selecting a drone, take the
following criteria into consideration:
Battery composition: Drones should be powered with
LiPo batteries. LiPo batteries are much better than
their NiCad older brothers because they output power
faster, store larger amounts of power, and have a
longer life.
Battery life: How long will the drone battery last under
normal usage? The bigger the drone, the bigger the
battery you will need. Under normal usage (meaning
not a lot of wind or cold weather), your drone should
be able to fly at least 15 minutes. More than that is a
big win.
Proprietary technology: Does the drone require you to
use the manufacturer’s specific battery? Requiring you
to use a specific battery with a proprietary connector is
one way manufacturers can make extra cash. Check
out these aftermarket batteries and proprietary
batteries for the DJI Phantom drone series. Having the
option of using an aftermarket battery may save you
money in the long run.
Credit: Courtesy of Mark LaFay
Shows two LiPo drone batteries, both aftermarket and
brand-specific.
Replacement cost: Consider the cost of spare or
replacement batteries. For example, the DJI Phantom 2
is a $500 drone. A replacement battery for the DJI
Phantom 2 battery is around $100. That means that
batteries are 20 percent of the cost of this particular
drone. The 3D robotics Iris+ is around $750 and the
cost of a replacement battery is $40 which means that
the battery is roughly 5 percent of the cost.
Charging: Does your drone come with a charging
station? Charging stations aren’t as expensive as the
batteries but every little accessory can add up. Charge
times tend to be relative to the capacity of the battery.
You can shorten charge time by using a charger with a
higher output, which is indicated by amps. For
example, the DJI Phantom 2 charger is 2 amps and it
will take an hour to an hour and a half to charge the
battery. Using an aftermarket charger that charges at 6
amps would cut down the charge time by over half.
Proceed with caution when charging your drone battery.
Your drone’s total weight, power of the motors, and
size of the propellers will all play a role in determining
how long your drone can stay airborne. The battery,
however, will ultimately decide your flying time. Without
power, nothing else matters! Most drones come with
an average flight time rating. This rating is based off
average use in reasonable weather conditions.
Source :dummies